Rhodes University Faculty of Law Names Building in Honour of Justice Lex Mpati and Launches a R10 Million Fundraising Project

Date Released: Tue, 26 August 2025 22:39 +0200

By: Mo Senne (Senior Communications Officer)

To celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2025, Rhodes University's Faculty of Law has officially named its historic building, Lincoln House, "Lex Mpati House". To honour this significant milestone, the University has formally named its iconic Law Building in honour of distinguished alumnus and outgoing Chancellor Justice Lex Mpati, a key figure in South African jurisprudence. The celebration also marks the launch of "The Law 120 Legacy Wall," a R10 million fundraising initiative to support current and future students.

Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest man-made building in the world from 1311 to 1549, and for much of its history, it was home to one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta. The new name, "Lex Mpati," combines the Latin word for "law" and the isiXhosa word for "leader," which aligns with the University's motto: "Where Leaders Learn".

Justice Lex Mpati is retiring as the Chancellor of Rhodes University after 13 years of distinguished service. He was appointed in February 2013, becoming the first former African student of the University to hold the position. Before becoming a judge and later the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Mpati studied and lectured at the Rhodes University Faculty of Law. His career, which included working as a petrol attendant, a work clerk, and a barman, was shaped by resilience and hard work. In 1979, he enrolled at Rhodes University, earning his LLB degree in 1984, becoming only the second Black student to graduate with an LLB from the University. “Rhodes University carries a weight that language alone cannot express. This naming ceremony is a profound recognition of our father and his story woven into the University's history,” said Dawn Mpati, Justice Lex Mpati’s daughter. She added: “When people recognise me as Justice Mpati’s daughter, they ask about his work, but I can’t answer that because he has separated his life from his family. My father never came home and said, ‘Guess what happened in court today?’ It’s a mystery!”

The "The Law 120 Legacy Wall" is a brick-by-brick permanent installation within Lex Mpati House that will feature plaques recognising alumni and friends of the Faculty. “Donors will have the opportunity to secure naming rights,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela. “Our fundraising target, which is quite modest, is R10 million,” he added. The project seeks to bridge the gap for talented students from under-resourced backgrounds and build for future generations. Proceeds will immediately contribute to a Student Needs Fund to provide essentials like perishable food and sanitary products. The long-term goal is to create a dedicated Law Student Centre where students can eat, meet, and form a sense of community.

As the Dean of Law, Professor Michelle Karels noted, "The building will stand long after we have gone, and people will see the name 'Lex Mpati' on the building, they will ask who he was, what he stood for, and what they can learn from his example." The tribute highlighted Mpati's profound belief in using his position not for personal glory but to uplift others. He was, as Prof Karels described, "a man who didn't believe in commanding from height but in lifting others to heights that they did not think were possible." His judicial philosophy was rooted in compassion and protection, with Karels emphasising that he was "a jurist who believed that the law's highest purpose wasn't to punish but to protect."

Honourable Judge Kathleen Satchwell said that judges should embody traits of being able to “stick their necks out to make a difference whilst being calm and collected.” She notes the State President appointed Justice Mpati to chair the inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation because he is “good at listening.”

Former Chief Judge, Raymond Zondo, said: "Justice Lex Mpati overcame many challenges to achieve all he achieved. I do not doubt that for as long as the law faculty building stands with his name on it, for generations to come there will be many young people whom Justice Lex Mpati's life story will inspire because when they hear his life story, they will know that he was able to move from being a petrol attendant to being president of the second highest court of the land. And they will know that anything is possible, regardless of background."

The naming of the building serves as a permanent reminder of Justice Mpati’s exemplary leadership and commitment to justice and human dignity.

About the Rhodes University Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law was officially established in 1951 by the Rhodes University College Law Department, which was founded in 1905. The Faculty has a strong tradition of producing highly regarded legal professionals. The current student body demonstrates a commitment to transformation, with 65% of undergraduate females compared to the University's average of 57%. A remarkable 96% of law students identify as Black (African, Coloured, or Indian), considerably higher than the University's overall average of 87%. The Faculty also boasts an 85% graduation rate for its Bachelor of Laws program.

Source:The Division of Communications & Advancement